Ubisoft recently announced an upcoming mobile game titled Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade and this project risks wasting an incredibly interesting historical setting. The open-world sci-fi franchise has taken players to various time periods and locations, ranging from the Third Crusade to the French Revolution. Ubisoft recently revealed details about various new Assassin's Creed games during a showcase in September, and this event may have revealed a huge wasted opportunity.
The Assassin's Creed franchise shows no signs of slowing down, with multiple future installments set to take fans to a wide range of new historical settings. The next game in the franchise will be Assassin's Creed Mirage, which will follow Valhalla antagonist Basim Ibn Ishaq during his early life in 860s Baghdad. This title is being billed as a return to the franchise's roots, with players utilizing social stealth and parkour to traverse the streets and rooftops of Baghdad. Ubisoft also announced Assassin's Creed: Codename Red, which will serve as the series' long-awaited foray into Feudal Japan. The Assassin's Creed horror game Codename Hexe remains quite mysterious, but rumors suggest that the game will explore the German witch hunts.
Codename Jade is adding more fuel to the Assassin's Creed fire - Jade, an upcoming installment, will take players to Medieval China. However, unlike the console games unveiled during last month's showcase, Codename Jade will be an open-world experience designed exclusively for mobile devices. After customizing their own character, players will be able to explore Imperial China in the year 215 BCE, during the rule of the Qin dynasty. Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade will attempt to faithfully translate the series' typical gameplay into a mobile experience, with touch controls letting players freerun across the Great Wall of China and engage in sword duels. While Codename Jade may sound promising, a mobile game will no doubt waste an amazing Assassin's Creed time period like Medieval China.
Medieval China Should Get A Full-Fledged Assassin's Creed Game
Medieval China is a fascinating time period that fits perfectly with the Assassin's Creed formula, and Codename Jade risks wasting that potential. A mobile game with touch controls has no hope of delivering a full-scale open-world adventure, with Assassin's Creed Mirage and Codename Red no doubt dwarfing Ubisoft's recreation of China during the Qin dynasty. A customized protagonist will likely prevent Codename Jade from delivering a truly engaging story, too, since the main character will be a mere avatar for the player. The Qin dynasty could easily carry a full-fledged Assassin's Creed game, given its plethora of historical figures and violent events, and a mobile game is unlikely to honor the period effectively.
The Assassin's Creed Infinity game hub will let Ubisoft produce a variety of historical experiences, ranging from the open-world RPG Codename Red to the ominous horror title Codename Hexe. However, instead of taking advantage of this central hub, Codename Jade will instead transform Medieval China into a simple mobile game. The Qin dynasty is the perfect fit for an Assassin's Creed experience, so it's a shame to see such an amazing location be restricted to a touchscreen title with a custom protagonist.